[caption id="attachment_149962" align="alignnone" width="550"]
A section of the gathering at Secretariat junction on November 15. (EM Images)[/caption]
Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Nov. 15 (EMN): Amid restrictions from the Angami Public Organisation (APO) to hold the sit-in-protest at secretariat junction in Kohima, mass of people joined the Public Coordination Committee to press the government for implementation of the Lokayukta in Nagaland, and further to voice against the prevailing injustices and corrupted practices in the state.
People from various organisations took part in the agitation including Acaut, Public Service Aspirants of Nagaland, Nagaland Tribes Council, Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organisation, Nagaland Baptist Church Council, Kohima Baptist Pastors’ Fellowship and Nagaland Indigenous People’s Forum, among others.
Speaking at the protest, Acaut chairman Joel Nillo Kath regretted that Nagaland is a failed state.
“This is the fourth year that we have been demanding for implementation of Lokayukta, but the govt. and standing committee is not serious in passing it,” Kath said adding “we will not leave secretariat venue till our demands are fulfilled.”
“Politicians and bureaucrats have failed the youth, but the church chose to remain with the youth who were fighting for truth. Because of the existence of nepotism, many Naga youth will not get job,” Kath said.
Stating that Acaut will support NBCC in its clean election campaign, Kath also went on to say that “unless God fearing person is elected, no amount of protest will change the system and things will never change.”
Apart from the Lokayukta, it may be mentioned that the three-day sit-in-protest also demanded the govt to revoke the govt.’s decision to scrap Class III posts from the purview of NPSC, and also to declare the marks and answer keys in all stages of NPSC exams as well as the names of those in the waiting list, and fourthly, to immediately terminate all backdoor appointments made after June 6, 2016 and revoke the subsequent October 26 memo.
President NVCO Kezhokhoto Savi pressed the legislators to pass the Lokayukta bill before this Christmas season. “Unless this is passed in the assembly, it will not become a law,” he added.
Stating that RTI promotes transparency and accountability, Savi was quite positive that Lokayukta will provide clean, accountable and transparent govt.
“Any legislator who invites corruption and does not fear law will not want Lokayukta in the State. I appeal the NLA to pass this bill so that the amount of the existing corruption in the State will be reduced and Nagaland will become a corruption-free state,” he stated.
Chairman of Nagaland Indigenous People’s Forum, advocate NM Jamir stated that Lokayukta was delayed because government do not want to ensure transparency and accountability in the state affairs.
“With corruption, there will never be peace and development in the state,” Jamir said adding that “Nagaland is one of the worst corrupted states in the country where government does not think about the welfare of its people.”
PSAN representative Nitoka V Swu mentioned that several memorandums, representations and ultimatums were submitted, he, however said, the state govt, instead of responding positively has scrapped Class III posts from the purview of NPSC through October 26, 2017 memorandum.
“PSAN has been demanding to set up Staff Selection Board in line with SSC as we do not have confidence in departmental exams,” Swu said while he also pointed out the random appointments by the govt.
Rev. Keviyiekielie Linyü, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, assured on behalf of the KBPF, to support the movement and further appealed the youth to make deeper commitment to stand for justice and what was right.
KBPF president Rev. Vevo Phesao, said that the KBPF will extend its solidarity to any movement that was just, noble, honest and genuine and further to those who are working for the good of the public and for the best interest of the citizens of Nagaland.
He further assured to support in prayer, while he also made a sincere plea to all Nagas to maintain peace and to put the grievances to the government of the day without violence, but to let the voice be heard in a way that is peaceful and democratic.
NBCC representative Vikuo Rhi, in his remark, said the Naga society desperately needs healing, be it political, social or religiously.
“We need a corruption-free society. Give a chance to Naga youth to live a better life. Nagas deserve a decent life. Let us stand for the truth without fear and see the change we want to see. We deserve justice and love in the society,” Rhi stated.
A representative from the Kohima Municipal Ward Panchayat Association said the proposed peaceful protest was misunderstood and insisted the opposing party to understand that the movement was for the Nagas.
“There was no option left, except to come out in the street and support the cause,” he said.
